UK telephone area codes and number formats
Understand geographic prefixes, +44 formatting and why a number’s allocation is different from a caller’s identity.
Geographic numbers
UK geographic numbers begin with 01 or 02. Ofcom associates their dialling codes with geographic areas, generally cities and large towns. These areas are not a postcode lookup or a record of a caller’s physical location.
Use our area-code directory to find the geographic label associated with a code. Some areas need more digits to distinguish them than others, so do not assume every area code has the same length.
Other prefixes have different purposes
Ofcom’s numbering data distinguishes mobile, personal-numbering, freephone and other non-geographic ranges. In particular, not every number beginning 07 is an ordinary mobile: 070 is personal numbering and 076 includes radiopaging allocations.
Number type can help you understand the format, but it is not a risk assessment. Check your provider’s current charges before calling an unfamiliar range. Do not assume a tariff from the appearance of the number alone.
Domestic and international formatting
A UK number commonly appears domestically with an initial zero. International formatting uses +44 in place of that leading zero. Spaces and brackets can improve readability without changing the underlying number.
Our search normalises valid UK formats into one E.164 record. This prevents the same number appearing as unrelated pages because one person entered spaces and another used +44. Invalid or unsupported input is rejected instead of creating arbitrary pages.
Allocation is not current ownership
Ofcom publishes numbering allocation information. An allocation record identifies a communications provider associated with a block; it does not identify a private subscriber. Number portability also means that an allocation should not be treated as proof of the current mobile network.
Where we display allocation data, we identify its source and date. We do not infer the current network from a familiar prefix.
Keep the limits in view
A geographic-looking caller ID can be spoofed. An accurate number format and real area code do not prove a call is genuine. Use number information as context, then independently verify any unexpected request for money or sensitive information.
Sources & further reading
For a situation involving money already sent, contact your bank promptly using contact details you trust.
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